REMEMBER THE LITTLE THINGS
Concert Band, Gr. 4
“Remember the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”
– Robert Brault
Commissioned by the Eastern Arizona College Band (Geoff DeSpain, Conductor), REMEMBER THE LITTLE THINGS is designed to capture a nostalgic look at childhood and the bittersweet passage of time. The work reminds us to enjoy the small details of our lives, as those are the things we cherish the most as time passes onward. The waltz-like section that begins the work is a musical “winding back the clock,” instructing the listener to think back. The following melody suggests the simplicity and innocence of youth, recalling fond memories of crayons, tree houses, and bedtime stories. The darker middle section is a bleak reminder of the fears and anxieties most children will experience from time to time: death of a family member or beloved pet, moving to a new home, or even illness. After overcoming these fears with a brief fanfare we ultimately recall the astounding resilience of youth as we return to the simple, happier melody.
This work is dedicated to ANNA ELIZABETH GORDON. Anna was born in 1987 and graduated from the University of Alabama in 2009 with a double major in Psychology and Spanish. In her senior year, Anna was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia; she battled through chemotherapy and eventually into remission. After beginning graduate school at the University of Georgia in 2009, she relapsed with her disease. She received a bone marrow transplant in August 2010 and went into remission a second time. In December 2010 she relapsed yet again and ended her journey in peace on May 9, 2011. Anna personified the resilience, strength, and innocence of youth.